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Sunday, May 28, 2017

A Book of American of American Martyrs by Joyce Carol Oates, reviewed by Paul Daniel

736 pages. Ecco/HarperCollins Publishers. $30.97
(Canada)

Abortion. Even now,
it is still the issue for which reconciliation appears impossible. Both sides,
as passionate now as in the past, have only intensified their positions and
vilified their opponents. Ironically, it is that passion that links both sides’
humanity.

This is what makes
Joyce Carol Oates’ new work of fiction, A
Book of American Martyrs, so necessary and worthwhile. Rather than relying
on warmed over tropes, Ms Oates chooses a careful and thoughtful examination of
the personalities contained in both sides of this never-ending debate.

This work of fiction
focuses on the murder of Dr. Gus Voorhees who is murdered in November 1999
while walking into a women’s clinic that provides abortions. He is murdered by
Luther Dunphy, a God-fearing, God-serving believer who is convinced the murder
of the doctor is saving lives of the unborn. Oates devotes a significant
portion of the book to the effect Voorhees’ work has on his family. In between
dodging threats and making due with a father who is often absent, the three
children desperately try to retain a facsimile of unity even while divisions
rise up between them.

While reading the
book, I couldn’t help but think Oates’ story was reminiscent of the October
1998 murder of Barnett Slepian, an
abortion provider who was killed by a shotgun blast into his Amherst, New York,
home by James Copp.

Oates presents the
perspectives of the family members of the victim and the murderer with a great
deal of sensitivity. The murder itself takes place on the first page of the
book in a sudden and shocking turn.

Joyce Carol Oates

While not condoning
the violent action, Oates attempts to show what led Dunphy to this terrible
moment. The death of his daughter because of a car accident and his wife’s
emotional decline are heaped on the shoulders of Dunphy. Looking for some
relief or a resolution to the pain he is enduring, he finds it in church and a
particularly fiery priest outraged that abortion is still legal.

The preacher asks
his congregation if there is not one among us who will take a stand and save
lives. Perhaps not realizing the power of his oratory, the priest is approached
by Dunphy about his words, the true meaning and what needs to be done.

The priest, realizing
that Dunphy is dealing with an overwhelming sadness, attempts to diminish his
growing desire to take a stand. The effect of his counselling is negligible.

The real strength of
the book comes from the examination of how the two families are affected by
this murder. In some ways, both families share the same fate: all the children
in the respective families have no father, the wives are put in the unenviable
position of having to bind the emotional wounds, stand by their men and somehow
find a way to go on.

It would be
understandable to feel compassion for the victim’s family as well as the family
of the murderer. They are the unintended victims of this violent action. In a
subtle manner, Oates is supportive of Dr. Voorhees but cannot fail to
appreciate the sacrifice made, if involuntarily, by the family of the murderer.

In this monumental
work that stretches out over 700 pages, Oates writing style is succinct and
clear without being devoid of feeling. Readers can’t help but appreciate the
emotional price that is paid by innocent bystanders caught in the emotional,
political and literal crossfire of an unresolved debate.

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Paul Daniel is an audio producer at Accessible Media Inc., (AMI) in Toronto,
Ontario. Writing and reading have always been his second and third passions
following his first passion, his wife, Mary. He’s enjoyed being in
Brian’s creative writing
class. “Brian’s class has reminded me the pleasures and challenges of writing,”
says Paul. “There’s never a dull moment.”

Brian Henry has been a book editor, writer, and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He teaches creative writing at Ryerson University. He also leads weekly creative writing courses in Burlington, Mississauga, Oakville and Georgetown and conducts Saturday workshops throughout Ontario. His proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get published.